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Dr. Adebunmi Odiakosa

When Mrs Adebunmi Odiakosa, a medical doctor, decided
on a charitable medical care for children with special needs, she thought that
“Oh, I was going to do this for only five years,” but it did not turn out as she thought.

Mrs Nike Okundaye, Founder, Nike Art and Cultural Foundation(fourth from left, sitting) and her husband, in a group photograph with discussants and guests; Mrs Opral Benson( second left, sitting) and Former American Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders.

Professor Ulf Klausenitzer on the violin, Manami Sano on the piano & Maestro Thomas Kanitz on the Cello

Ayo Bankole Jnr. on the grand piano & MaestroThomas Kanitz on the Cello

Strings and keys brought
together classical music lovers at the MUSON Classical Concert on recently when
Etisalat Nigeria sponsored the exclusive event, as part of MUSON Music Festival,
held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Ebi Atawodi & Brama Shagaya

Akintola Williams (OFR), Gboyega Banjo & Mathew Willsher

The 10-day annual Festival,
which began on Oct. 17 also lit the Centre with jazz, drama and dance,
coinciding with the Centre’s 30th anniversary on Oct. 25th.

Breath-taking
performances were delivered by two guest artistes from Germany; Professor Ulf
Klausenitzer on the violin and Ms. Manami Sano on the piano, who both performed
alongside MUSON Artistic Director, Maestro Thomas Kanitz, on the Cello.

He is a senior pastor at the Olivet Bible Church in
Festac Town, Lagos.

Much as he loves the practice of architecture, a
discipline in which he was trained, Nlekwuwabelieves that, “ the people must be built first before we worry about
the physical structures.” But sure, as an architect, putting the worship tent
in good shape never stops being his concern too!

In this regard, the Olivet Academy, initiated by him
has been a life-transforming platform where people are groomed to become
confident enough to start small businesses rather than wait for white-collar
jobs that may never come.“We have
trained and encouraged the youths to plant a tree today (start a business) and
nurture it.

Pastor Nlekwuwa’sworriesare not far from the fact
that in time past beinga college
graduate guaranteed young people jobs. “Graduating from college is no longer a guarantee
that you get a job and this is not what it used to be.”

For the purpose of a better future, Nlekwuwa advocates
that every youth should be guided through a creative path even before
graduation. He says, “The schooling period is actually a better time for the
youth to learn the importance of owning a business before leaving the
university.”

Considering the people-oriented structures that the
Church has built over time, the pastor says there is so much to celebrate about
at the church’s annual thanksgiving celebration which comes up on Dec. 8.

“We have seen so many victories and progress in lives
of individuals. Indeed, hard grounds have been broken and we remain thankful to
God.”

He however wants churches under the Christian
Association of Nigeria(CAN)to do more
of people- centredprogrammes. “Besides
protecting the interest of Christians, CAN should also encourage the Churches to take
keen interest in developing people, especially the youth.”

According to the pastor, for 2014,
the emphasis would be to encourage people to look beyond self and emphasised
the need for proper management of issues in the middle-east. “Any mismanagement
of issues in the middle-east will trigger off problems,” he said.

He is however hopeful that
continuous advocacy will help re-orientate young people concerning job creation
and a sustained economic empowerment.

“Entrepreneurship is the way to go
and the youth will benefit from that orientation than dreaming of roaming the
streets in endless search for jobs.”